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Conventional Over Denture
Conventional Over Denture
Conventional Over Denture
Why an over-denture?
If a patient is treatment planned to have a denture, and the roots of some remaining teeth are supported in healthy alveolar bone - - then a conventional over-denture is a viable consideration. However, only a licensed dental professional can determine if a conventional over-denture is a suitable consideration for a certain person, after a comprehensive examination.
Implant Over-Denture
An implant over-denture connects to cylinder-like configurations (called implants) that have been surgically implanted into jaw bone. The denture appears like a traditional prosthesis. However, that part of the denture overlying implants is modified to retain various semi-rigid attachments that receive implant extensions projecting above the gum. This arrangement helps keep a denture securely in place while eating, speaking and during other oral activities, but still allows easy self-removal of the denture for cleaning purposes. There are two phases to this process. The first is a surgical phase consisting of two stages, and the second is a prosthetic phase (making the implant denture).
Implants are left undisturbed beneath gum tissue for at least several months as determined by the dental professional. During this time bone reorganizes and grows around the implant surface, anchoring it securely into the jaw (this is called osseointegration). At the end of the healing stage, the top of the implant is exposed by removing gum tissue directly over it. An extension that is then screwed into the exposed implant projects slightly above the gum tissue. After adjustments, an existing denture can be worn over an implant extension while the gum heals. However, the denture must be reshaped to conform to surgical site contours in order to avoid unnecessary pressure areas on the newly surgerized site.